When Alison from Un Complicate Me emailed me some pictures of her kitchen asking my advice, I was conflicted. I was conflicted because I am not, in any way, an interior decorator. I love helping people shop and look for things at antique malls, but the fact remains that my house is a little weird. Fun, but weird. It looks like mid century modern and cottage style and flea market cheap all had a baby together.
But Alison is a brave soul and said she wanted my opinion anyway. She has this small dining nook in her kitchen, but doesn't want to use it as an eating area (they already have a dining room). She also wants to be able to put plants in front of the window.
My first question to her was, "What accent colors do you like?"
To which she replied, "I love all colors. My husband says we live in a Skittles house."
How cute is that?
The first thing I suggest is curtains. I would put two panels on either side of this window, and if privacy isn't a huge concern I would take the shade down. Be sure and get a longer curtain rod, so the panels can hang more in front of the walls on either side... that way when you push them back, they wont block light from the window for the plants and it makes the window look bigger. I would personally do long curtains, to make the window more of a focal point.
And since Alison loves color, how about some pattern on the curtains? These are reasonably priced at Urban Outfitters, and they incorporate green and aqua.
And there's always these fantastic curtains from Anthropologie. Poor Alison's husband is probably yelling, "LIZ... I AM NOT MADE OF MONEY." But these are by far my favorite curtains ever.
And since Alison loves color, how about some pattern on the curtains? These are reasonably priced at Urban Outfitters, and they incorporate green and aqua.
And there's always these fantastic curtains from Anthropologie. Poor Alison's husband is probably yelling, "LIZ... I AM NOT MADE OF MONEY." But these are by far my favorite curtains ever.
My second suggestion, since Alison does not want to use this space to eat and needs to keep plants in front of the window, is a buffet. Not a super creative suggestion, but it will give her added storage, a prime window place for plants and a chance to inject some more color into her 'Skittles House' (I just love that term, so cute). And, by hanging the curtains wider on either side of the window, they'll frame the furniture nicely.
These buffets are from Maine Cottage. And let's be honest, they're pricey. But you could easily reproduce this look with some custom paint and a cheap flea market purchase. Or better yet, a free curbside find. It could be a buffet, or a small bedroom chest of drawers.
Aqua would look cheerful with Alison's green walls, and you know I had to suggest it.
But since Alison also has a red Kitchen-aid Mixer, she might prefer this color. Or, the tried and true shade of white or black paint.
And then on top of the buffet, I would collect planters from antique malls and flea markets (love this one pictured) and create a little vintage planter garden for the kitchen.
Alison also has a substantial wall in the corner, the perfect place for her dog food and water bowls. Believe me, I understand the need to hide animal bowls in a place less 'kickable', I think in this case it might be best to leave the bowls as they are and decorate around them.
Alison also has a substantial wall in the corner, the perfect place for her dog food and water bowls. Believe me, I understand the need to hide animal bowls in a place less 'kickable', I think in this case it might be best to leave the bowls as they are and decorate around them.
My first suggestion for that wall is a blackboard. It would be the perfect place for recipes and grocery lists. I like how in this picture they painted the entire wall. But be forewarned, I've heard that painting over blackboard paint is horrendous. So if you take this road, be sure you want to keep it for a long, long time.
Or, you could find a vintage mirror and turn it into a chalk board like this photo. I LOVE this dining nook.
And if a chalkboard doesn't float your boat, how about a family photo wall with mismatched frames?
Lastly, Alison's kitchen has this little desk area. She decided not to have a home office in the kitchen, and has been using this cabinet instead. She's not super attached to it, so I have a suggestion for this space.
I love a little open shelving in kitchens. How about a bookshelf for some display?
It would be a great place to keep cookbooks...
And if a chalkboard doesn't float your boat, how about a family photo wall with mismatched frames?
Lastly, Alison's kitchen has this little desk area. She decided not to have a home office in the kitchen, and has been using this cabinet instead. She's not super attached to it, so I have a suggestion for this space.
I love a little open shelving in kitchens. How about a bookshelf for some display?
It would be a great place to keep cookbooks...
*photo via Flickr, jazzejunqueinc's
... or an even better excuse to collect more vintage kitchen stuff. And you could even paint the bookshelf the same shade as the buffet in front of the window for some color symmetry.
OK Alison. That's my amateur flea-market advice. I'm sure whatever you decide to do, it will be fabulous. After all, any woman that earns the title 'Skittle House' is a woman after my own heart!
AND... readers feel free to weigh in. It may be that you'll have the perfect solution!
